The Maneki Neko has become a symbol of Japan in the West. That kitten with its arm constantly in motion seems to bring good luck, the same luck that artists wish for themselves when they represent it, including Belarusian street artist Doctor Oy, who fights the censorship of Alexander Lukashenko’s government.
Doctor Oy takes his cue from the subjects of Eastern tradition, creating black and white works composed of simple, curved lines. Only primary colors find a place in the illustrations, to define small playful details.
Through his Instagram profile Doctor Oy tells some of the stories behind the creation of his murals, which often clash with the opposition of the Belarusian military.

Making art in Minsk is complicated, it’s not easy to create a mural like the one depicting the artist’s grandmother, while outside the police are pointing their guns at the wall.
The subject is the symbol of the generation of Belarusians who lived between the two wars, the one who must inspire a new resistance. It is not easy to take a picture in Lenin Square, the seat of government, without attracting the attention of the police, as the artist himself says.
Doctor Oy’s art is a reportage of the importance of making art as a tool of resistance. “Work, creativity and revolution”, that’s how the artist is going to seek the fortune of the Belarusian people.